Untitled DocumentPress Release
Eastern Prelacy of the Armenian Apostolic Church of America
138 East 39th Street
New York, NY 10016
Tel: (212) 689-7810
Fax: (212) 689-7168
Email: email@armenianprelacy.org
Website:
Contact: Iris Papazian
CROSSROADS E-NEWSLETTER – July 17, 2008
THREE PRELATES AND CHAIRMEN TO MEET
The three Prelates of the Eastern, Western, and Canadian Prelacies,
together with the chairmen of the respective Executive Councils, will gather
in Montreal next Wednesday evening and all day Thursday, July 23 and 24, to
discuss areas of mutual concern and cooperation. Archbishop Oshagan and Jack
Mardoian, Esq., will attend on behalf of the Eastern Prelacy.
PRELATE WILL HOST RECEPTION FOR UNITED NATIONS DELEGATION
Next Tuesday evening, July 22, Archbishop Oshagan will host a reception
welcoming the UN-Armenia delegation. Heading the three-person delegation is
Ms. Consuelo Vidal, United Nations Resident Coordinator, UN Development
Program Resident Representative in Armenia. Joining her are two other
members of the delegation, Mr. Armen Baibourtian, Senior Advisor to the UN
Resident Coordinator, and Ms. Nadine Sahakyan, Assistant Resident
Representative.
LINKED IN: A WEEKEND WORKSHOP FOR STUDENTS & PROFESSIONALS
Are you looking for a way to connect with friends and with your church?
Would you like to learn more about your Armenian spiritual heritage?
In celebration of the 50th anniversary of the Prelacy under the
Catholicosate of Cilicia, a workshop for students and professionals (ages 18
to 35) will take place September 26 to 28, at St. Mary Coptic Orthodox
Retreat Center in Charlton, Massachusetts.
For more details click
Direct your questions via email to linkedin@armenianprelacy.org
ARMENIAN EDUCATION CONFERENCE BEGINS TODAY IN LEBANON
The second Armenian Education Conference, under the auspices of His
Holiness Aram I, Catholicos of the Great House of Cilicia, began today, July
17, in Bikfaya, Lebanon. Bikfaya is the site of the Cilician See’s
Theological Seminary and is the summer residence of the Catholicos.
Participants include about 100 educators representing all of the dioceses
under the Cilician See. Bikfaya is a town in the mountains east of Antelias.
The Seminary was moved there in 1977. A modern seminary building, including
classrooms, offices and residences, was built in 1985 and renovated in 2003.
The conference, which is with the cooperation of the Armenian Department
of the Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation, will examine issues related to the
teaching of Armenian language, literature, history and religion. Also
discussed during the three-day conference will be the textbooks that are
necessary for effective teaching. The conference will conclude on Sunday,
July 20, with participants attending the Divine Liturgy in the chapel of St.
Asdvadzadzin in Bikfaya, followed by a luncheon.
Mrs. Houri Ghougassian is attending on behalf of the Prelacy. Mrs.
Ghougassian serves as part-time librarian at the Prelacy’s Hovsep and
Suzanne Hagopian Library, and is a full-time teacher of Armenian at Holy
Martyrs Armenian Day School in Bayside, New York.
SUMMER CAMP AT ST. SARKIS CONCLUDES TOMORROW
The third annual summer camp at St. Sarkis Church (Douglaston, New York)
culminates tomorrow, July 18. This year the camp had 53 registered campers
as well as 14 teachers and counselors along with a staff cook who prepared
tasty and nutritious meals for everyone.
Rev. Fr. Nareg Terterian, pastor of St. Sarkis, set the pace for the two
week fellowship with religion and Armenian classes. There were also classes
on hymns, prayers, Armenian history, arts and crafts, sports, drama and
music. This year, the summer camp ventured a bit off the beaten path with a
field trip to the local Alley Pond Environmental Center where campers
experienced first hand the impact human encroachment has on our natural
habitat.
Tomorrow the campers will present a talent show, where their newly honed
skills in singing and dancing will be displayed to their parents. St. Sarkis
Church acknowledges and thanks Mr. and Mrs. Antranik and Marion Boudakian
for sponsoring this camping season.
MAJOR RENOVATION UNDERWAY AT ST. ILLUMINATOR CATHEDRAL
Major renovation of St. Illuminator’s Cathedral in New York City has
begun. Until the renovation is completed the Divine Liturgy will be offered
every Sunday at 10:40 a.m. at the Armenian Center, 69-23 47th Street,
Woodside, New York.
PAN-DIASPORA YOUTH CONFERENCE
A pan-Diaspora youth conference will take place in Antelias, Lebanon, on
August 14-16. Under the theme, "The Armenian youth face the challenges of
the 21st century," the conference will feature lectures, and round table and
group discussions. More than 100 youth from the various dioceses within the
Catholicosate of Cilicia will participate. Travel subsidies are available.
For information contact your local parish or the Prelacy office,
212-689-7810.
DAILY BIBLE READINGS
Bible readings for today, Thursday, July 17 are: Proverbs 11:30-12:4;
Hosea 12:6-9; 2 Corinthians 4:6-14; Luke 12:2-10,
For it is the God who said, "Let light shine out of darkness," who has
shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God
to the face of Jesus Christ.
But we have this treasure in clay jars, so that it may be made clear
that this extraordinary power belongs to God and does not come from us. We
are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not driven to
despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed;
always carrying in the body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus
may also be made visible in our bodies. For while we live, we are always
being given up to death for Jesus’ sake, so that the life of Jesus may be
made visible in our mortal flesh. So death is at work in us, but life in
you.
But just as we have the same spirit of faith that is in accordance with
scripture-"I believe, and so I spoke"-we also believe, and so we speak,
because we know that the one who raised the Lord Jesus will raise us also
with Jesus, and will bring us with you into his presence.
(2 Corinthians 4:6-14)
OUR NEW PEW BOOK
The new Divine Liturgy Pew Book is available for purchase. This Pew Book
was meticulously prepared to enable the faithful to follow the Divine
Liturgy with ease and comprehension. Each two-page spread is in four
columns: the first in Classical Armenian, the second in modern Western
Armenian, the third in transliteration, and the fourth in English
translation.
The Pew Book can be purchased from the Prelacy Bookstore. The price is
$15.00, plus shipping and handling. To order contact the Prelacy Bookstore,
212-689-7810.
FROM OUR ARCHIVES
This year we are marking the dual anniversaries of the 110th anniversary
of the establishment of the Armenian Prelacy of America by Catholicos
Mgrditch (Khrimian Hairig), and the 50th anniversary of the Prelacy under
the Holy See of Cilicia. We continue to seek any type of memorabilia and
photographs. Please contact us by email at info@armenianprelacy.org or by
telephone 212-689-7810, Extension 23. We thank many of you who have already
responded.
A MINI SERMON
As a reminder of our fallen humanity, St. Paul uses himself as the
greatest example of what a sinner is capable of and how merciful and
forgiving God is. Imagine for a brief moment that we take time to stop
judging everyone else and make light of our own faults and shortcomings just
as St. Paul did when he wrote to Timothy.
What would become of us human beings if we could not complain about what
everyone else is doing, while overshadowing our own deeds. St. John
Chrysostom wrote: When we see the goodness from God in ourselves, it is then
that we can easily see the goodness in others. So, in essence, St. Paul
calls us to self-examination so that we might take the time and have the
ability to see our own shortcomings and become more aware of the
difficulties that others endure in their spiritual struggle. In doing so we
can find aspects of our lives that we can honestly improve, by truly
realizing that we were created by a God of love, mercy, forgiveness, and
charity, whose ultimate desire is that we manifest that love given to us so
freely to one another in the same way that God has showered it upon us. You
may wonder, Does God really love us? If we want the answer to that question,
all we need do is look at Christ on the Cross and we will have our answer.
Perhaps, the greater question is, Are we ready to accept that love that God
has so freely given to us?
Rev. Fr. Vartan Kassabian
Pastor, St. Gregory Armenian Church of Merrimack Valley, North Andover,
Massachusetts
CALENDAR OF EVENTS
July 14 to August 1-St. Illuminator’s Day School Summer Program, July 14
through August 1, for children ages 3 to 10, Monday through Friday, 9 am to
2 pm. Armenian language, history, Bible readings, arts and crafts, sports
and much more. For information and registration contact the school office
718-478-4073 or the Cathedral office 212-689-5880.
July 19-"A Hye Summer Night 3," dance hosted by Ladies’ Guild of Sts.
Vartanantz Church and ARS Ani Chapter, Providence, Rhode Island. For details
401-434-4467.
August 3-Holy Cross Armenian Church, 50th Anniversary Blessing of the Grapes
picnic, noon to 4 pm, on the church grounds, 101 Spring Ave., Troy, NY.
Blessing of the grapes at 3 pm officiated by Rev. Fr. Bedros Shetilian. Eat
in or takeout; raffle. For information 518-274-1477.
August 5-St. Asdvadzadzin Church, Whitinsville, Massachusetts, 9th annual
golf outing at Blackstone National Golf Club, Summon, Massachusetts.
Information: 508-234-3261.
August 17-St. Asdvadzadzin Church, Whitinsville, Massachusetts, picnic and
blessing of the grapes, officiated by Archbishop Oshagan and New England
area clergy. On church grounds, beginning at 12 noon. For information:
508-234-3677 or
August 17-St. Illuminator’s Cathedral, Feast of the Assumption of the Holy
Mother of God and Blessing of the Grapes, and picnic, at the Armenian
Center, Woodside, NY. For information 212-689-5880.
September 7-Annual picnic Festival of St. Gregory Church, North Andover,
Massachusetts, at American Legion Grounds, Haverhill, Massachusetts,
beginning at 12 noon.
August 3-Sts. Vartanantz Church, Providence, Rhode Island, Blessing of the
Grapes picnic. Camp Haiastan, Franklin, Massachusetts, noon to 6 pm, rain or
shine.
August 10-Holy Trinity Armenian Church, Worcester, Massachusetts. Annual
picnic on church grounds. Free admission; free parking.
August 17-Sts. Vartanantz Church, Ridgefield, New Jersey, annual church
picnic and blessing of the grapes at Dunkerhook Park, Pavilion D, Paramus,
NJ. For information 201-943-2950.
September 14-Sts. Vartanantz Church, Ridgefield, New Jersey. Celebration of
the Holy Cross and Madagh. For information 201-943-2950.
September 21-Holy Trinity Armenian Church, Worcester, Massachusetts, annual
church banquet. Details to follow.
September 25-Sixth annual golf outing hosted by Sts. Vartanantz Church,
Ridgefield, New Jersey, at River Vale Country Club, River Vale, New Jersey.
For information contact Richard Krikorian 201-784-2236 or church office
201-943-2950.
September 26-28-National Youth Conference at Holy Virgin Mary Spiritual
Vineyard, Charlton, Massachusetts.
September 29-30-Clergy conference at the Holy Virgin Mary Spiritual
Vineyard, Charlton, Massachusetts.
October 17-18-Annual Fall Fair of St. Gregory Church, North Andover,
Massachusetts, Jaffarian Hall.
October 21, November 1 and 2-Sts. Vartanantz Church, Ridgefield, New Jersey,
Annual Bazaar and Food Festival. For information 201-943-2950.
November 9-38th anniversary of St. Gregory Church, North Andover,
Massachusetts, and 50th anniversary of the Prelacy under the Holy See of
Cilicia, presided over by His Grace Bishop Anoushavan at Jaffarian Hall
following Divine Liturgy.
October 25-Gala celebration of the 50th anniversary of the Prelacy of the
Armenian Apostolic Church of America under the jurisdiction of the Great
House of Cilicia and the 110th anniversary of the establishment of the
Armenian Church of America. Marriott at Glenpointe, Teaneck, New Jersey.
Details to follow.
November 21 and 22-Holy Trinity Armenian Church, Worcester, Massachusetts,
Fall Food Festival.
Web pages of the parishes can be accessed through the Prelacy’s web site.
To ensure the timely arrival of Crossroads in your electronic mailbox, add
email@armenianprelacy.org to your address book.
Items in Crossroads can be reproduced without permission. Please credit
Crossroads as the source.
Parishes of the Eastern Prelacy are invited to send information about their
major events to be included in the calendar. Send to:
info@armenianprelacy.org
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress